Today, the new purveyors to the royal household or royal warrant holders as they are sometimes called will be received at the palace for the first time. There are four new Flemish companies and two from Brussels. Which companies can all call themselves purveyors to the royal household and how do you actually become a member of this select club?
Six new purveyors to the royal household: where’s King Filip doing his shop? (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
Published:
The new royal purveyors are the Belgium Kitesurf Association from Watermaal-Bosvoorde (Brussels), taxi service Direct Way from Machelen (Flemish Brabant), handbag shop Jumeaux from Dendermonde (East Flanders), Oni Onik Fashion Creations from Oostnieuwkerke (West Flanders), furniture upholstery shop Maison Lachèze from Elsene (Brussels) and van Cronenburg from Ghent (East Flanders), which makes window handles and taps.
The Kitesurf Association stands out: King Filip is an avid kitesurfer. Earlier, water sports club Surfers Paradise in Knokke-Heist also became a purveyor to the royal household.
The six new companies mean there are currently 134 court suppliers. The map will show that most purveyors to the royal household are located in Brussels and the surrounding area. West Flanders and the coast also supply quite a few purveyors to the royal household. In Limburg, there is only one: shoe manufacturer Ambiorix from Tongeren.
Our kings have always had a fondness for cars. The court suppliers include four car brands: BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover and Jaguar, and car importer D'Ieteren. Filip, King of Belgians, clearly loves chocolate too: 7 chocolatiers can call themselves purveyors to the royal household.
Strangely enough, only one beer brewer is purveyor to the royal household: Alken-Maes. However, next to chocolate, beer will be the best-known Belgian export product. The king probably prefers to drink wine, as there are no fewer than six wineries that can call themselves purveyors to the royal household.
A company or business does not become purveyor to the royal household just like that; several conditions need to be met.
They must have been supplying products or services to the Belgian court for at least five years, have an office registered in Belgium, be registered in the Belgian trade register, sell at fair prices and submit a written application and receive the approval from the current king or queen.
The king finally grants the title of "Licensed Court Supplier of Belgium" after examination by and on the advice of a gentleman called "the Intendant of the King's Civil List".
No justification is given when deciding whether or not to award the licence. It is granted for five years. The king can decide to extend that period. The king and queen will receive the new royal warrant holders today.